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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement      [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement           Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                              The First Years Inc.
                ------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


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[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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    (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
        the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
    0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
    previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

    (1) Amount Previously Paid:

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COMPANY PRESS RELEASE


[THE FIRST YEARS INC. LOGO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Beals
         Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
         (508) 588-1220


                   THE FIRST YEARS INC. MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
                 ____________________________________________


AVON, MA, May 11, 2001 ---- The First Years Inc. (NASDAQ: KIDD) announced today
that it had been informed by Phillip Goldstein, a shareholder who had filed a
preliminary proxy statement with the SEC soliciting support of a number of
proposals, that he does not intend to further pursue his proposals at the
forthcoming annual meeting of shareholders, scheduled to be held on May 17,
2001, and does not otherwise contest the slate of directors proposed by
management.